What’s On in Edinburgh this week

MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2014

Pakistan Society Heritage Project presents Rural Reflections: an exhibition of rural scenery of Pakistan and Scotland. ‘Here we share the stories of ten members of the 50+ group of the Pakistan Society of Edinburgh, who began their lives in rural Pakistan before moving to the UK. Although they have lived in Edinburgh for many years, none of the group had ventured forth to the Highlands of Scotland. Their journey to find out more about rural life and the history of highland communities not only opened their eyes to a distinctive cultural heritage, it also brought to the fore their own vivid memories of growing up in rural Pakistan.’ 10am-8pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am-5pm Thursday to Saturday, CommunityRoom 2, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. Free booklet available at the exhibition.

Gilmerton Writers’ Group: for everyone with an interest in writing prose, poetry or plays. 6.30pm, Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street.

Metre by Meter: Exploring Poetry in the Trenches. Learn about Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen and discuss some of their World War One poetry. 6.30-7.30pm, Colinton Library, 14 Thorburn Road. Free: to book a place please call 0131 529 5603.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Children’s Book Group: if you are 8 to 11 years old with a love of books and biscuits join this group for a friendly hour of books and chat! Currently reading John Fardell’s gripping adventure story The 7 Professors of the Far North. 6-7pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. To join just email your details to childrens.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom: Scottish Branch Meeting. All women welcome. 5.30 for 5.45pm start, Engender Office, 1a Haddington Place.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Ruth Bailey and Jackie Holt: Knit Your Own Broons. The authors of Knit Your Own Scotland and Knit Your Own Britain launch their latest book. 6.30-7.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available from Blackwell’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218 or emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

Veterans Breaking Barriers Information Day: come along and meet representatives from Veterans Scotland, Job Centre Plus, Crisis Skylight, Citizens Advice Bureau, Officers Association Scotland, The Legion Scotland, SSAFA, Combat Stress, SAMH, Regular Forces Employment Agency, The Thistle Foundation, Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, The Lothians Veterans Centre, Veterans First Point, Remploy, Drummond Education, Veterans First Point, Shelter Scotland, Timebank’s Shoulder 2 Shoulder Erskine Project and more…there will be a social area to relax and meet fellow armed forces veterans, plus a chance to watch a film made by ex-servicemen about leaving the forces (showing at 1pm and again at 3pm). 12 noon-5pm, Teviot House, 13 Bristo Square.  Free: all welcome (not just veterans!) For more information contact Caronne on 07837 040568 , email Caronne500@hotmail.com or see the Veterans Breaking Barriers Facebook page here.

Eduardo Paolozzi: Judith Collins, independent curator and writer, talks about her new book on Leith-born Paolozzi – the first full-scale historical appraisal of his work in all media. The talk will be followed by a signing. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Victor Zhang – Huawei Technologies. Former CEO of Huawei UK and Ireland, Victor Zhang took up the post as President of the Brussels office and the West-EU Public Affairs and Communications department in June 2014. In this role he is responsible for strategic relationships between Huawei Technologies, European Institutions and the European ICT industry and West-EU Public Affairs Department. This is a joint event with the University of Edinburgh and the Confucius Institute, and forms part of the Institute’s Business Lecture Series. 6.30 (registration and coffee from 6pm) -7.45pm, Auditorium, Business School, University of Edinburgh, 29 Buccleuch Place. All welcome: book via eventbrite. Free.

Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland: Studley Royal – ‘The Wonder of the North’ – past, present and future. Michael Ridsdale, Head of Landscape at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Estate, National Trust, will talk about the multi-disciplinary management of this world heritage landscape. Joint lecture with The Garden History Society in Scotland. 6.30-8.30pm, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, George Street. £5/£2.50 (students). Non-members warmly welcomed.

Be Arty, Be Healthy: Free Healthy Lunch and Christmas Craft Workshops. Come along and make items such as Christmas decorations and festive wreaths to sell at the Christmas Fair on 6th December. Lunch 12.30-1pm, workshop 1-4pm,  today for the next three Mondays, Craigmillar Community Arts, 58 Newcraighall Road.

 

TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2014

Armistice Day: Prayer and Meditation. The Memorial Chapel will be open for prayer and meditation. 10.45-11.15am, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Lothian Road.

TOGETHER Remembrance Event: marking the eleventh day of the eleventh month with a musical reflection held jointly with City Centre partner churches St John’s Episcopal and St Cuthbert’s.  There will be readings, responses, and new music composed especially for this occasion. 7.30-8.30pm, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, George Street. All welcome.

Words and Music for Armistice Day: music and poetry by, and dedicated to, those who fell in World War One, including music by Elgar, Butterworth and composers whose careers were cut short by war. Simon Nieminski (organ) and Monica Toll (soprano). Words read by Fr Jamie Boyle. 7.30pm, St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, York Place. Free: retiring collection.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Alanna Knight: The Balmoral Incident. Edinburgh-based crime writer Alanna Knight launches the latest novel in her Rose McQuinn series. As Rose travels with her niece Mabel and trusty dog Vane to stay with her friend Olive on the Balmoral Estate, little does she know that within 48 hours of her arrival, death will have visited the great castle. 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available from Blackwell’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218 or emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

Remembrance Day Talk: Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) during the First World War. Yvonne McEwen discusses this much-neglected story. Based on ground-breaking original research, this talk examines the long-held, uncritical and overly-romanticised views of First World War nursing and addresses the professional, personal and political consequences that arose for nurses in the pivotal period 1914-18. The talk will include a Q & A session and the launch and signing of Yvonne’s new book In The Company Of Nurses. 6-7.30pm, The Symposium Hall, The Royal College of Surgeons, Hill Square. Free tickets should be booked via eventbrite. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Bookbug Rhymetime: rhymes and songs for the under 3s. 10.30-11.ooam or 11.30am-12 noon, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road.  Free, no booking required.

War Poets Collection: Exhibition Guided Tours. Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart campus has a fascinating past. It opened as a hydropathic establishment in 1880 but was requisitioned during the First World War as a hospital for shell-shocked officers; Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon famously met here. From the 1920s the building became home to the Convent of the Sacred Heart and Craiglockhart College of Education. The university houses a small special collection of material relating to the history of Craiglockhart. Catherine Walker will provide a guided visit and talk about the many interesting characters who have had links with Craiglockhart over the years. The exhibition is open to the public and all are welcome to visit. Tours will take place 11am-12 noon and 2-3pm today and on 13th, 19th, 21st, 25th and  28th November, Napier University, Craiglockhart Campus, Glenlockhart Road. Free but please register by calling 0131 455 4260 or emailing events@napier.ac.uk. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Baby Cafe: enjoy coffee and a chat, with toys, books and games for babies and toddlers. 11am-12 noon today and every Tuesday, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace.

ESOL Chatabout Reading Group (intermediate level): a great opportunity for adults to learn English as a second language. Free, informal and relaxed monthly sessions – practice your English and share your ideas about the book the group is reading; build your confidence in reading, speaking and understanding the language. 10-11am, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. To find out more please contact Mohammed.boussaboun@edinburgh.gov.uk or call 0131 529 5617. Next meeting Tuesday 9th December 2014.

Lunchtime Concert: Music Students from the University of Edinburgh. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free and unticketed.

Pat Dishon: The Delaneys of Edinburgh. Pat will talk about researching and writing her book, set in St Patrick’s Church in the Cowgate during the ‘Little Ireland’ period in the 19th century. 7pm, Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue. All welcome.

Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links: autumn meeting. Dr Chris Wigglesworth will talk about The Geology of The Meadows. 7.30pm, The German Church, Laudate House, 1 Chalmers Crescent. All welcome – bring your questions and ideas! More information about the Friends and their activities here.

Lee Miller’s Transgressive Eroticism: Patricia Allmer, Chancellor’s Fellow at Edinburgh College of Art, will focus on the engagement of the American photographer Lee Miller with the writings of the Marquis de Sade. The talk will explore her Sadean work, both as model and photographer, in relation to the Sadean philosophies of her Parisian avant-garde peers, such as the American writer and alleged cannibal William Seabrook, and the anti-Surrealist group around Georges Bataille’s publication Documents. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Level Up: Reading XP – reading and gaming teen group for boys aged 11-14. 6-7pm, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. For reading list click here.

North Edinburgh Community Circle: if you would like to feel more connected, offer support to other people, have people to turn to when life gets tough, build friendships with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, or get a fresh perspective on things, come along to the Community Circle. The group shares a meal at the start of the meeting; this is free but any contributions of food to share are welcome. 5.30-8pm today and the second Tuesday of every month, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Road. For more information contact Linda at Edinburgh Development Group on 0131 476 0522.

Imagination Mill: a new exhibition of work by Hannah Botma (illustrator), Caroline Halliwell (illustrator), Tess Barnard (printmaker/fine artist) and Katie Forrester (illustrator), a group who met at Edinburgh College of Art and are all recent graduates or current postgraduates. Explore their works of fictional vision and be inspired to use your own individual ‘imagination mill’. Opening 5.30-7.30pm tonight, then 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 10am-12 noon Saturdays, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Road. Call 0131 315 2151 for more information.

Christmas Carol Singing Sessions: fancy a wee sing?  Come along to these sessions, which will be held every Tuesday in November, working towards singing at the Christmas Craft Fair on 6th December. 12.30-1pm, Craigmillar Community Arts, 58 Newcraighall Road. No booking necessary – speak to Mike or Tricia if interested.

 

WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2014

Music Box @ Colinton Library – Inaugural Event: An audience with Benny Tetteh-Lartey. A unique chance to meet and listen to the award-winning singer-songwriter and Afro-Scot Beat pioneer, following on his community appearances for Black History Month. See some of the instruments Benny has created himself, hear some acoustic variations and find out how Benny’s background has informed his music and songwriting. Refreshments provided! 4-5pm, Colinton Library, 14 Thorburn Road. Free and unticketed.

An Evening with Graeme Macrae Burnet and Michael J Malone: two distinguished Scottish writers talk about the influence on their work of France, its people, its history and its culture. Graeme is the author of The Disappearance of Adele Bedeau ‘a captivating psychological thriller’ (The Herald) in the tradition of Georges Simenon. Michael co-authored The Guillotine Choice with Bashir Saoudi, the son of the book’s subject Kaci Mohand Saoudi, who was sent from French Algeria to Devil’s Island for a crime he did not commit. 6.30pm, Golden Hare Books, 68 St Stephen Street. Read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article on the launch of The Guillotine Choice earlier this year here.

Metre by Meter: Exploring Poetry in the Trenches. Learn about Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen and discuss some of their World War One poetry. 6.30-7.30pm, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road. Free: to book a place please call 0131 529 5609 or call into the library.

Play Poland: New Horizons and New Europe Film Sales. Special screenings of Trash, Fragmenty, Incredibly Flexible Man, Island, Moonshine, The Big Leap and Game. 6.30pm, Meow Photography Studios, 86-92 Causewayside. Free.  Shown as part of Play Poland 2014 Film Festival.

The British Heart Foundation Collection: Piershill Library will be collecting clothes, bric a brac, toys, books, etc for this charity today. If you need a bag, just ask in the library. Piershill Library, 30 Piersfield Terrace.

Guided Tour of the National Library: guided tour of the building and an introduction to the Library’s collections and history. 10.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking essential as numbers are limited: call 0131 623 3734 or book online. Please inform the library of any special access requirements.

Health In Mind Coffee Morning: are you 65+? Want to find out what’s going on in your local community? Pop in and join others for a cup of tea and a chat. 10.30am-12 noon today and every Wednesday, Community Room 1 (upstairs, lift available), Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road

Leaving It All: Scottish soldiers’ wills and appeals against military service. A remarkable archive of wills of Scottish soldiers is held by National Records of Scotland. Dr Tristram Clarke led the project to catalogue the surviving wills; personal stories can also be found in the records of the Military Appeals Tribunals in NRS. Dr Clarke’s talk will focus on what these often poignant documents can tells us about the lives of individual men and their families during the Great War. 2-3pm, General Register House, 2 Princes Street. Free tickets should be booked via eventbrite. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Edinburgh Napier University Undergraduate Webchat: if you are a UK student thinking about studying with Napier, this is the chat for you! Join in online and speak to staff and other prospective students – about courses, the UCAS process and even about living in Edinburgh. 4-6pm; please register here. For more information contact studentrecruitment@napier.ac.uk.

Bookbug: 30 minutes of rhymes and songs for very young children. 10.30-11.15am, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road.

Tollcross Community Council: monthly meeting. Come along and share your views! The Community Council addresses issues such as litter, street cleaning, graffiti, road repairs, recycling, policing matters, changes to social care arrangements, planning applications and new licensing proposals. 6.45-8.45pm, Tolcross Community Centre, Fountainbridge. More information here.

Make It: an informal get together for people interested in any form of hand crafting, be it sewing, card-making, knitting, patchwork, quilting, crochet…Drop  in, swap hints and tips, learn something new or just enjoy a chat and a cup of tea with like-minded people. If you can carry it in, you can bring it! 6.30-7.45pm tonight and every Wednesday, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road.

Everyone Kens Everyone: a showcase of documentary-style photographs taken of local people from Muirhouse over a 3-4 year period. Borja Prada’s sensitive portrayal is a celebration of the diverse community that lives in the area. Opening 4.30pm today, then 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 10am-12 noon Saturdays, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Road. Call 0131 315 2151 for more information.

Grow Your Own Garden Workshops. A course of six-structured ‘grow your own’ workshops for beginners. Workshop 2: Getting Growing – sowing seeds and creating new plants from cuttings, bulbs and other plant parts. For ages 16+. 6-8pm tonight or 10am-12 noon on Saturday 15th November (session is repeated, so you should attend one or the other),  North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Road. Free, no booking required, but you are requested to stay for the whole two hour session, as the workshops are structured. Creche is available for the Wednesday evening workshops, but must be booked in advance. Call 0131 315 2151 for more information.

Lunchtime Concert: singers from Edinburgh Napier University accompanied by pianist Chris Harding. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Edinburgh Newman Circle: Michael TRB Turnball, lecturer and author (including Scotland: The Facts, and a biography of Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray) will speak on St Andrew – Myth, Legend and Reality. 7.30pm, St Catherine’s Convent, Lauriston Gardens. For more information contact Dan Cronin on 0131 667 5270 or danjcronin@btinternet.com. All welcome.

 

THURSDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2014

Firhill Christmas Market: enjoy seasonal refreshments as you browse the fabulous stalls – crafts, gifts, cards, jewellery, cakes, decorations and much, much more….7.15-9.15pm, Firhill High School, 9 Oxgangs Road. Entrance £2, under 12s free.

Previously….Scotland’s History Festival starts today! Talks, discussions, walks, tours, song, theatre; celebrate Robert Louis Stevenson, hear about The Kaiser’s Spy in Scotland, experience a mediaeval concert at Rosslyn Chapel, learn how to write historical narratives at the City Art Centre, and be part of history in the Grassmarket when Chris Rutterford incorporates pictures of locals and visitors into a 64′ outdoor mural. For details of these and many more events, see Previously’s website. Festival ends 30th November 2014.

Writing Your Story, Writing History, with RLS Fellows J David Simons and Chris Dolan. Robert Louis Stevenson was a master of writing the past to create wonderful stories such as Kidnapped, The Master of Ballantrae and Treasure Island. To celebrate RLS Day, join this masterclass in writing narratives from the past, either through actual historical figures and events or through personal histories and memoir. 1.30-4pm, City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. Free, but places are limited and must be booked via eventbrite. Supported by Scottish Book Trust.

Amnesty International and Relief Theatre Present Even If We Lose Our Lives, exploring the difficulties faced by women in modern Afghanistan through the stories and words of Parween, founder of the only girls’ school in Laghman province, Manizha, the American-raised organiser of a women’s shelter, and Dr D, an anonymous gynaecologist operating in an unnamed province. Interviews were conducted by actor and human rights activist Christine Bacon. Each peformance will be followed by a short talk and Q & A session led by Amnesty activists and other guest speakers. All proceeds will go to Amnesty International. Please note: this play includes references to violence and domestic and sexual abuse. 8-9.15pm tonight and 14th & 15th November, Cairns Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets £6/£5: book via Summerhall’s website or at the box office (0131 560 1581).

Bookbug: 30 minutes of rhymes and songs for very young children. 10.30-11.00am, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North.

Robert Louis Stevenson All-Day Reading: the Robert Louis Stevenson Club journeys with the travel writing of RLS – backpacking, canoeing, hiking with a donkey, crossing the Atlantic and Wild West and sailing the South Seas. 11am onwards – drop in or stay all day, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free and unticketed.

Share A Story: storytime for the under-5s. 10.30-11am today and every Thursday, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. No need to book – just come along!

Robert Louis Stevenson: Rare Pieces from the Collections: a chance to see rare material relating to RLS from the National Library’s collections, including first editions and photographs. On display for a limited period today only. 11am-2pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free and unticketed.

Gaelic Songs and Rhymes for children and babies. 10.30am, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road. (Next session on 27th November at Blackhall Library.)

Tusitala’s Colinton: tour Robert Louis Stevenson’s Colinton following the new Poetry Trail, viewing the statue of a young RLS with the sculptor, and exploring RLS’s haunts in the Manse garden. 11am-12.30pm, begins from Triangle Public Garden viewing point on Woodhall Road. To book call 0131 441 2537 or email ccct@colinton-conservation.org.uk.

Cafe Voices: Stevenson Stories. Join storyteller Peter Snow for an evening of RLS stories as part of the Storytelling Centre’s monthly Cafe Voices session. 7-8pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets £5: book online or call the Centre’s Box Office on 0131 556 9579.

Becoming Julie: My Incredible Journey – Julie Clarke launches her new book. Julie was born a boy in 1950s Scotland, but after battling her demons for many years she underwent transgender surgery in 2006 to become a women: her ‘poignant, funny and always honest’ book charts her struggles along the way. 6.30-8.30pm, Waterstones, George Street. Free tickets available in store: further details on 0131 225 3436.

Words and Deeds, Weapons and Wounding: Edinburgh University’s exhibition Words and Deeds: Women, Warfare and Caregiving explores the often neglected and understated story of women in warfare and was housed at Surgeons’ Hall Museum in 2013. Subsequently a new exhibition has been developed by the Museum to be displayed in conjunction with the original exhibition. Weapons and Wounding highlights the severity of injuries, exploring the progression of weaponry and the ever increasing need for new medical and surgical techniques to cope with wounding in warfare. 10am-8pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am-5pm Thursday to Saturday, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road. Closes 29th November 2014.

Pass On a Poem: ‘ a chance to explore poetry in a beautifully bookish though wonderfully informal setting.’ Read a favourite published poem aloud, or just come along to listen to a diverse collection at this live poetry event. No previous experience of poetry or reading live required! If you know what you want to read, email the shop with details and they will add you to the list.  6.30pm, Golden Hare Books, 68 St Stephen Street.

Royal Mile Walking Tour: Walking tour of the Royal Mile, from the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, led by Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guides. 10am-12 noon, today and every day to 30th November 2014, starting from the foyer of The Hub. Booking is essential and tickets are £3/£1: contact George Laing on 0131 334 8490 or gklaing@aol.com. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Catriona Child: Writing Historic Fiction. Edinburgh-based Catriona’s second book Swim Until You Can’t See Land, is set partly in World War Two, and charts the relationship between two women, born sixty years apart, whose chance encounter marks a watershed for the younger woman. 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available from Blackwell’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218 or emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

Live Music Now: Laura Margaret Smith (mezzo-soprano) and Geoffrey Tanti (piano) perform A Castle Mills Suite, a new cycle of songs by John Maxwell Geddes, commissioned as part of the World War One Centenary Art Commissions. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

Censoring Creativity: From Plato to Bach. Professor Stephen Rose, Royal Holloway College, University of London, will speak on this topic in the University of Edinburgh’s Music Research Seminars series. The talk will be followed by a Q & A session and a drinks reception. 5.15-6.15pm, Lecture Room A, 2nd Floor, Alison House, Nicolson Square. All welcome. For more information or any special access requirements contact a.c.davison@ed.ac.uk.

Generation DJ Set: Loops Haunt. Residing deep in the Scottish countryside Scott Gordon ‘Loops Haunt’ has been producing experimental electronic and audiovisual artwork since 2003. His sound often encompasses ineffable ambiences and rugged industrial sounds sculpted into structure. For GENERATION By Night, Loops will offer a site-specific set, responding to the artworks on display and the theme of GENERATION: 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland. 6pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed.

Artist Talk: Ross Sinclair. Ross will talk about the process of re-staging Real Life Rocky Mountain, before performing as part of it. 6pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed. Part of GENERATION By Night.

Portrait Gallery Insights: George Jamesone, Scotland’s First Portrait Painter. Kate Anderson, Senior Curator at the Portrait Gallery, discusses the life and work of George Jamesone. Jamesone was a key figure in the development of portrait painting in Scotland; he was the first great native-born artist in a profession dominated by foreigners. 5.30-6pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free, but places are limited and should be booked by calling 0131 624 6560.

The Drawing Room: an informal artist-led drawing session. Each session is developed by a contemporary artist and is inspired by the GENERATION exhibition, whilst also reflecting concerns in the artist’s own work. All materials supplied: no experience necessary. 5.30-6.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed.  Part of GENERATION By Night.

Write On! a new free writing group for people in South Edinburgh who would like to try something new or develop their creative writing. A friendly, supportive group offering planned writing sessions, structured around prompts to kickstart your imagination. Interests in all kinds of writing, including poetry, prose and memoir welcome, as are people completely new to creative writing. The group is about writing for pleasure rather than critiquing writing styles. 3.30pm today and every Thursday until 11th December 2014,  Tynecastle Community Wing, Tynecastle High School, McLeod Street. Advance registration essential: contact Rose at Health All Round for more information: 0131 337 1376 or Rose@healthallround.org.uk.

Communities for Conservation: Food and Mood Workshop. Join this workshop to learn more about a healthy, balanced diet. A fun and interactive session looking at the role of fats, sugar and salt. 11am-1pm, ELREC (Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council), 14 Forth Street. Book your free place via eventbrite, email JGaunand@elrec.org.uk or call 0131 556 0441.

India in the Archives: The Royal Society for Asian Affairs India Collection. Renowned historian of colonial Lucknow Dr Rosie Llwellyn-Jones will present material from the Collection. 4-5.30pm. Sidney Smith Lecture Theatre, Medical School, Teviot Place, Doorway 1, Room 2.520, University of Edinburgh. One of a series of seminars arranged by the Centre for South Asian Studies.

Ecumenical Friends at St Cuthbert’s. Charles J Burnett: Heraldry – the Shorthand of History. Everyone warmly welcome; bring your own packed lunch, tea and coffee provided. 12.30-2pm, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Lothian Road. £1.50 per person. Organised by Edinburgh City Centre Churches TOGETHER.

Kirk O’Field Coffee Morning: Edinburgh Food Initiative food co-op selling fresh fruit and vegetables, sale table with new and nearly-new goods – as well as teas, coffees, and the renowned bran scones and butteries! 10.30am-12 noon today and every second and fourth Thursday in the month, Kirk o’Field Parish Church, 140 The Pleasance.

Dancing Mice Album Launch: ‘Eroded takes in electronic pop, weird folk, psychedelia, and post punk, melding them into a quirky, erudite style with some cool pop hooks’. Plus guests Sacre Noir: Scottish-based electronica three-piece, and PAL: pop/new wave influences and songs in German.  7pm, Henry’s Cellar Bar, 16a Morrison Street. Free entry.

 

FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2014

Spanish Fine Foods and Gifts Open Day: join El Olivo olive oil company for a glass of wine, and taste the oils and other Spanish delicacies. Gifts, oils, chorizos, tapenades spices, antipasti, rice, vinegars and much more! Plus Spanish wines from Calduero Importers, jewellery, baskets, cashmere ponchos and nutritional advice. 11am -9pm (drop in), 1 Dalrymple Crescent. 10% of takings will be donated to local cancer charity itsgood2give. For more information call El Olivo on 0131 668 4751 or email info@elolivo-olive-oil.com. Hasta luego!

Caesura #27: Goodnight Press. One of a series of events exploring experimental writing and performance through stripped-back, often anarchic, perfomances. This month’s event features Belfast-born writer and critic Maria Fusco, London-based experimental poet Jennifer Cooke, sound poet and Dada scholar David Hopkins and found poetry duo Ed Smith and Thomas MacColl. For ages 12+. 8-10pm  (doors open 7.30), Demonstration Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets £5: book via Summerhall’s website or at the box office (0131 560 1581).

Jenni Calder and Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley: a new edition celebrating the 200th anniversary of what is widely regarded as the first historical novel in the western tradition. Come along to hear Jenni Calder discuss the themes of Waverley and her reworking of the text for modern readers. 3-4pm, Scotland’s People Centre, New Register House, 3 West Register Street. Free tickets should be booked via eventbrite. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Amnesty International and Relief Theatre Present Even If We Lose Our Lives, exploring the difficulties faced by women in modern Afghanistan through the stories and words of Parween, founder of the only girls’ school in Laghman province, Manizha, the American-raised organiser of a women’s shelter, and Dr D, an anonymous gynaecologist operating in an unnamed province. Interviews were conducted by actor and human rights activist Christine Bacon. Each peformance will be followed by a short talk and Q & A session led by Amnesty activists and other guest speakers. All proceeds will go to Amnesty International. Please note: this play includes references to violence and domestic and sexual abuse. 8-9.15pm tonight and 15th November, Cairns Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets £6/£5: book via Summerhall’s website or at the box office (0131 560 1581).

Storytime: 10.30am today and every Friday, Piershill Library, 30 Piersfield Terrace.

Edinburgh University Singers: Parry Blest Pair of Sirens, Parry I was glad, Stanford Magnificat Op.164, Finzi Part Songs. Conductor and organist: John Kitchen. 1.10pm, McEwan Hall, Teviot Place. Free and unticketed.

LGBT Women’s Wellbeing Group: Feeling Good. An opportunity to learn about – and try out – relaxation techniques and adrenalin boosters that can make us feel good about ourselves. 2-4.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Contact alison@lgbthealth.org.uk or call 0131 652 3283 for more information or to be added to the group’s email list.

Edinburgh College of Art Friday Lecture Series: Michelle Sank. Sank is a photographer whose work reflects a preoccupation with the human condition, encompassing issues around social and cultural diversity. Free and open to all: for details of time and location contact ECA.

Bookbug: 30 minutes of rhymes and songs for very young children. 2.30pm, Corstorphine Library, 12 Kirk Loan.

Macular Society: Macular Degeneration (loss of central vision). If you have MD or know someone who does, drop in for an informal chat and coffee with others who have the same condition and learn more – don’t worry on your own, join the group for friendly support, information and help. 10.30am-12 noon today and on the second Friday of each month, Falcon House, 91 Morningside Road, EH10 4AY.

The Hare and the Tortoise: Recitals for Wrigglers. A concert for babies and toddlers. 10.30am, Charles Smith Room, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. Tickets £5 for one adult and one child, £2.50 for  each additional child.

Scottish Fair Trade Forum Fair Trade Awards Ceremony and Exhibition Launch: an evening of awards and culture. Browse the stalls, taste Equal Exchange’s new hot chocolate, be the first to hear who this year’s award winners are (awards presented at 6.30pm), and view the Fairtrade Foundation’s photography exhibition Fairtrade at 20: The Power of You. The exhibition will then run in the Chaplaincy Centre until 21st November. 6-8pm, Chaplaincy Centre, University of Edinburgh, 1 Bristo Square.

The Transfer of Science and Philosophy Across Religious Boundaries in the Middle Ages: Professor Charles Burnett of the Warburg Institute, London, one of the world’s leading scholars working on the history of science in the Islamic World, will deliver this special lecture exploring what happens when a scientific or philosophical work is translated from one religious culture to another, specifically from pagan Greece to Islamic Arabic and from Islamic Arabic to Christian Latin culture. 6-8pm, King Khalid Building, Royal College of Surgeons, Hill Square. Free tickets should be booked via eventbrite. For more information contact rosie.mellor@ed.ac.uk.

Quiz Aid! come and have fun and test your knowledge at this Christian Aid fundraiser, and help people in the world’s poorest communities work their way out of poverty. Come with a ready-made team of 4-6 people, or come on your own and join a team on the night. Enjoy a glass of Fair Trade wine or juice. Donations for bottle stall much appreciated. 7.30pm, The Walpole Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. £5 per person, no charge for children.

Indian Encounters: a new exhibition exploring the changing relationships between Great Britain and India during the 18th and 19th centuries through the lives of two men with very different experiences of British Imperial rule, Captain Archibald Swinton and Maharaja Duleep Singh. Duleep Singh became the first resident Sikh in Britain after he, at the age of 10, had to surrender the Sikh Punjab and all his treasures to the East India Company.  Archibald Swinton served in the East India Company’s army at the beginning of its military expansion into India. 18th century miniature paintings and  19th century jewellery, plus Casualty of War, a contemporary work completed in the miniaturist tradition by artists The Singh Twins, reflecting on their personal view of Duleep Singh’s life and their own Sikh heritage in Britain today. 10am-5pm from today, Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free. Closes 1st March 2015.

The Travelling Gallery: GENERATION TG – a group exhibition including five artists working in a range of media, focusing on what it is like to be a contemporary visual artist in Scotland and including a film of artists talking about their work to pupils from Edinburgh schools. 1.30-4pm, Craigmillar Community Arts, 58 Newcraighall Road.

The Fine Art Society of Edinburgh: Derek Clarke MBE RSA 1912-2014: Portraits of Rocks – Eighty Years of Landscape Painting. The first major exhibition of landscape paintings by the late Derek Clarke to be shown since the artist’s death in February at the age of 101. Inspired by Scottish and Irish landscapes and painted over a period of 80 years, the 25 paintings in this exhibition had, until recently, sat undisturbed in the artist’s Stockbridge studio. Clarke studied at the Slade School of Art (1931-35) and taught at Edinburgh College of Art for 30 years, retiring in 1978. His pupils there included Elizabeth Blackadder, Barbara Rae, John Bellany and George Donald. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturday, Bourne Fine Art, 6 Dundas Street,

 

SATURDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2014

Hidden Haiti: Fourth World Art. Discover more about how Haitian artists recycle materials by turning them into beautiful artwork and homeware at this launch exhibition, and learn how Fourth World Art is supporting artisans to rebuild after the crippling 2010 earthquake. 1am-5pm, The Old Lab, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Free. Also open at same times on Sunday 16th November.

Amnesty International and Relief Theatre Present Even If We Lose Our Lives, exploring the difficulties faced by women in modern Afghanistan through the stories and words of Parween, founder of the only girls’ school in Laghman province, Manizha, the American-raised organiser of a women’s shelter, and Dr D, an anonymous gynaecologist operating in an unnamed province. Interviews were conducted by actor and human rights activist Christine Bacon. Each peformance will be followed by a short talk and Q & A session led by Amnesty activists and other guest speakers. All proceeds will go to Amnesty International. Please note: this play includes references to violence and domestic and sexual abuse. 8-9.15pm, Cairns Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets £6/£5: book via Summerhall’s website or at the box office (0131 560 1581).

History Research: Understanding Language and Handwriting. In family history research you may come across challenging handwriting, Latin, Scots or antiquated English, as well as some unfamiliar terminology. Dr Bruce Durie, author of Scottish Genealogy and Documents for Genealogy and Local History, shows how to understand such documents. 11am-12 noon, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets can be booked via eventbrite or by calling 0131 242 8100. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Putting the leaves on the branches: Enriching your family tree. Join Dr Bruce Durie, author of Scottish Genealogy and star of BBC’s Digging Up Your Roots, to discover how to take your research further and enrich your family tree with more than just names, dates and places. 2-3pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets can be booked via eventbrite or by calling 0131 242 8100. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: Pop-Up Family History Surgery. Scotland has the best-maintained records and facilities of any country in the world for undertaking family research. Visit the family history surgery and chat with the experts from Scotland’s largest family history centre, Scotland’s People. 10am-4pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free and unticketed. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Be Part of the History of the Grassmarket: local artist Chris Rutterford will be incorporating faces of visitors and locals into a 64′ long outdoor mural depicting historic scenes from the area, including the hanging of Maggie Dickson in the 18th century. Have your photo taken by the artist to be included in the scene, watch him paint, and learn about the history of the area through his characterful storytelling. If you have a story to tell relating to the Grassmarket, come to the gazebo, where stories will be collected  to use for future history events and guides. 11am-4pm today and 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th November 2014, in Grassmarket’s historic central square. Free, no booking required.  Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

David Purdie: Sir Walter Scott’s Heart of Midlothian. Opening with the start of the Porteous Riots in 1736, The Heart of Midlothian is one of Scott’s most famous historical novels, featuring murder, madness and seduction. A new edition of the book has been expertly reworked for modern audiences by David Purdie. 3-4pm, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street. Tickets cost £5/£2.50 and can be booked via eventbrite. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Getting Started with Family History Research: Ken Nisbet of the Scottish Genealogy Society offers pointers for those beginning their family history research. Find out about the extraordinary resources held in the Society’s family history centre, with the opportunity to explore before and after the talk.  1-2pm or 3-4pm, Scottish Genealogy Society, 15 Victoria Terrace. Free but places are limited; book via eventbrite. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

SCRAN: Explore your heritage online. Find out how photographs, news stories, letters, maps, artefacts and oral histories can bring your heritage to life. Explore the places that your ancestors may have lived and worked. This presentation will offer a tour through SCRAN’s digital collections to sample some of the material on offer for family historians. 11.30am-12.30pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets can be booked via eventbrite. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Rei Nakamura: piano, electronics and video. A programme of new works by Raquel Garcia Tomaz, Alberto Bernal and Christian Winther Christensen using electronics, movement and video to create an entirely new type of performance, both visually and aurally examining the interrelation of movement and sound, which are independent, but mutually supportive. 8pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free and unticketed.

LGBT: Trans Remembrance Gathering. Annual memorial event in honour of all those killed through transphobic hatred and prejudice in the last year. Take part in reading names, contribute to some arts and crafts, or join in quietly in the space. 2-3.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information contact Jules Stapleton Barnes at jules@lgbthealth.org.uk or on 0131 523 1104.

Crime Prevention Initiative: police officers will answer your questions relating to crime prevention and distribute helpful leaflets. South Edinburgh Crime Prevention Partnership will be offering shed alarms and bike locks for sale. 2-4pm, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road.

Adult Learners’ Voice: Have Your Say. Hear about Adult Learning in Edinburgh and have your say in shaping the future. 10am-12 noon, Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket. Refreshments served from 9.45am. To book your free place contact vicky.petrie@ea.edin.sch.uk or call 0131 558 8222. All learners welcome!

Morningside Farmers’ Market: fresh, local, seasonal goods direct from the producers. Meats, fish, vegetables, fruit, cheeses, baking, breads, preserves, jams, chutneys, confectionery, Continental treats, vegetarian foods, kitchen condiments, crafts and more. Hot refreshments available in the market or from The Merlin Pub and Kitchen next door. 9.30am-3.30pm, Merlin Pub & Kitchen car park (rear of Merlin), Morningside Road.

GENERATION Tours at Modern One: informal, discussion-led tours of the exhibition, focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed.

Portrait Gallery Architecture Tour: monthly architecture tour of the magnificent Arts & Crafts building, designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. 2-2.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free, but places are limited and must be booked by calling 0131 624 6560.

Scottish Parliament Guided Tour: a great opportunity to enjoy a guided walking tour of the Scottish Parliament building and to find out more about how the Parliament works. 1.45-3pm, Scottish Parliament, Canongate. Free but places are strictly limited and must be booked in advance: contact Anne or Christine on 0131 458 5959 or email anne.livesey@ea.edin.sch.uk. Organised by South West Community Learning and Development Team, City of Edinburgh Council.

Bohemia Art, Craft and Vintage Christmas Fair: ‘bespoke Christmas shopping event’ – over 35 stalls, winter warmer cafe. 11am-4pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free entry.

Grow Your Own Garden Workshops. A course of six-structured ‘grow your own’ workshops for beginners. Workshop 2: Getting Growing – sowing seeds and creating new plants from cuttings, bulbs and other plant parts. For ages 16+. 10am-12 noon (session is a repeat of the one held on Wednesday 12th November, so you should attend one or the other),  North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Road. Free, no booking required, but you are requested to stay for the whole two hour session, as the workshops are structured. Call 0131 315 2151 for more information.

St Cuthbert’s Christmas Fair: tombola, hampers, baking, preserves, cards, decorations, craft, bric a brac, Jack-and-Jill stall, guess the weight of the cake – come along, find some bargains for Christmas, and maybe win a prize!  10am-2pm, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Lothian Road. £1 per person. Donations for stalls welcome between 9am and 4pm on Friday 14th November.

Rosy Blue Blues Band: one of Scotland’s most exciting blues bands – early blues through to rock, soul, modern classics and their own compositions. 9pm, Old Chain Pier, 32 Trinity Crescent.

Christopher Orr: The Beguiled Eye. Christopher Orr’s first solo show in Scotland, bringing together new and recent paintings, and featuring for the first time the artist’s remarkable sketchbooks. Orr’s oil paintings and watercolours offer enigmatic glimpses into other worlds where modern characters appear within expansive environments, laden with drama.The intriguing scenes derive from an appropriation of a vast range of visual materials, including National Geographic magazines, scientific manuals, 1950s snaps, art historical images and Super 8 films. Opening 12.30pm today, Talbot Rice Gallery, University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge. Closes 14th February 2015. Free.

 

SUNDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2014

Sing Out! featuring Brighton’s Praise Group. Come and sing out for homeless people! Organist: Robin Gardiner. Refreshments will be served in the Undercroft Cafe following the Sing Out! 7pm, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, George Street. Retiring collection for Scottish Churches Housing Action.

Roddy Simpson: Victorian Scottish Photography. Roddy Simpson, photographer, photohistorian, author, Open Studies tutor at Edinburgh University and Honorary Research Fellow at Glasgow University, will talk about the photography of Victorian Scotland – its processes, personalities and popularity. 4-5pm,  The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street. Free tickets can be booked via eventbrite. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Hidden Haiti: Fourth World Art. Discover more about how Haitian artists recycle materials by turning them into beautiful artwork and homeware at this launch exhibition, and learn how Fourth World Art is supporting artisans to rebuild after the crippling 2010 earthquake. 1am-5pm, The Old Lab, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Free.

Bags of Art: cool and creative fun for ages 4-12 with artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Louise Fraser. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Hearing Impaired Tours: Remembering the Great War. A free tour with portable loops for the hearing impaired led by artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. 11am-12 noon, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. To book your free place contact the Information Desk on 0131 624 6560.

St Giles’ At Six: Sang Scule. A Garden in the North: Warrior Kings and Holy Men. Choral music for Robert The Bruce by Ben Parry, and for James IV by Sheena Phillips, with plainsong for St Columba, St Ninian and St Kentigern and Scottish Renaissance motets by Peebles, Douglas and Anon. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.